New technology speeds up dental visits

By Dr. Jerry Gordon

Tuesday

May 28, 2013 at 12:01 AMMay 28, 2013 at 11:28 AM

No one wants to be in a dental chair any longer than they have to. Fortunately, new procedures, materials, and technologies have enabled dentists to treat patients faster than ever before, improving the patientís experience and treatment results. One new technology Iíve recently incorporated into my practice is the SonicFill by Kerr, a well-established dental company. SonicFill is an innovative delivery system for white or composite fillings.

Filling cavities in the back of the mouth can be a time-consuming process. Several large fillings can take up to an hour, even by an experienced dentist or expanded function dental assistant (EFDA). The process is time-consuming because the dentist or EFDA often has to painstakingly place the composite filling in several layers to make sure that there are no voids or spaces between the tooth and the filling material and that the dental curing light completely hardens each layer of the material. If a filling has voids, the tooth can become sensitive, be more likely for cavities to recur, and can weaken the tooth, increasing the possibility of breakage. Over time, this will also increase the risk of the tooth requiring additional comprehensive treatment, like a root canal or crown (also cap).

When using the SonicFill delivery system, the composite is dispensed by a handpiece and sonic energy allows the material to come out smooth and flowable, quickly adapting to the walls of the prepared tooth. After the handpiece is removed, the composite becomes more firm and easy for the dentist or EFDA to finish contouring and sculpting. With the SonicFill, the potential for voids is much less likely because of the superior adaption of the composite to the tooth and the composite can be hardened by the dental curing light at a much greater thickness, usually making layering unnecessary.

A filling that would normally take at least 20 minutes to complete can now be done in 3 to 5 minutes, often with superior results. SonicFill can also be used in tricky clinical situations. After a root canal is completed, a titanium post is often used to help rebuild the tooth. SonicFill can easily fill around the post without voids or spaces that weaken the tooth, making the tooth stronger and less likely to break.

The SonicFill system is easy to use, and reasonably priced. I would highly recommend this technology for any dentist who does a significant amount of fillings in his or her practice. The results are excellent and patients appreciate spending less time in the dental chair, and more time doing, letís face it, almost anything else.

Note: Dr. jerry Gordon or The Dental Comfort Zone, PC has no financial interest in SonicFill or Kerr.

Dr. Jerry Gordon can be reached at (215) 639-0571. Comments, questions, and second opinions are available at The Dental Comfort Zone, 2734 Street Rd. Bensalem, PA 19020 (across from the Giant supermarket). To learn more: www.dentalcomfortzone.com

E-mail:drjdmd@comcast.net †

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